Westerners Sign Trio of SEC Hitters
April 10, 2014 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Danbury Westerners News Release
Danbury, CT- April 10, 2014: The Danbury Westerners, the longest tenured team in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, are proud to announce the signing of three hitters to their 2014 team: Zach Lavy, Jake Ring, and Joey Swinarski
Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, MO) is a sophomore third baseman for the University of Missouri Tigers. A transfer from Jefferson College, Lavy handled junior college pitching at a .296 clip with three home runs and 31 RBI before coming to Mizzou. As of April 5th, Lavy has appeared in 17 games and amassed eight RBI on only nine hits.
Jake Ring (Ingleside, IL) is an outfielder also for the University of Missouri Tigers. A highly touted high school prospect from Grant Community High School in Ingleside, Ring turned many heads in his senior year when he stole 40 bases in 16 games, earning himself a Rawlings Central Region First Team honoree selection. Ring was ranked in the top-20 in the state of Illinois by Prep Baseball Report. He currently plays centerfield for the Tigers, and as of April 5th, is third on the team with 12 runs scored.
Joey Swinarski (Winter Park, FL), is an outfielder for the 2013 College World Series runners-up Mississippi State University Bulldogs. A Perfect Game Second Team Underclass All-American and potential 2014 top ten round MLB Draft pick from The First Academy in Orlando, FL, Swinarski surprised many by graduating a year early to attend Mississippi State. In 2013 Swinarski hit .405 with seven home runs. Swinarski is red-shirting this season. He is the son of Julie and Ted Swinarski and is majoring in aerospace engineering.
Paul Schaffer, President of the Danbury Westerns, commented, "The Westerners have obtained exceptional talent from the SEC in the past, including Devin Jones (currently pitching for the San Antonio Missions, San Diego's AA affiliate), and Dane Opel (a member of the Chicago White Sox' Single A Great Falls Voyagers), and this year's ballplayers certainly have the potential to succeed. I'm glad Zach, Jake and Joey will be displaying their skills in Danbury this summer."
In addition the Danbury Westerners are currently recruiting host families for the 2014 summer. We request your willingness to welcome a young athlete into your home and provide a private bedroom for the summer (first week of June through early August). Food arrangements are up to you, and most players have their own cars for transportation. For those who don't, we pair them up with those who do. The benefits of being a Host Family are simple- the players quickly become a part of your family. You'll build relationships that last a lifetime. You will also receive season tickets so you'll be able to watch collegiate level baseball all summer long, and if you have young athletes of your own, the players serve as excellent mentors. Please contact Shelley Pitser at jspitser@msn.com if you are interested or need additional information.
The Danbury Westerners are also pleased to announce the return of their summer baseball camps program. Sessions will be held on July 7-10, July 14-17 and July 21-24. Managed by 21st Century Sports, the Danbury Westerners baseball camps offer an affordable and unique program, as these camps are led by the ballplayers themselves. To enroll please visit www.21csonline.com; early registration discounts are available for a limited time.
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